"Watch me hit him," "Watch him hit me," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

Editor: This is "Watch me hit him," "Watch him hit me," from the Terrors of America set, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1888 and 1889. It’s a print using colored pencil, meant to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. The image depicts a rather upsetting scene of potential school violence. What can you tell me about its composition and structure? Curator: Focus on the upper and lower vignettes. Notice how they present related actions, linked by the text, yet visually distinct scenarios. The line of sight between the children and the descending ruler creates a clear vector of implied force, bisecting the composition. The color palette, while limited, strategically employs contrasting hues to draw the eye to key elements like the boy’s face and the looming hand. Editor: It's interesting how the frame itself seems to almost amplify the tension, rather than contain it. Curator: Precisely. The elaborate border, with its repetitive floral motifs and strong, outlining colours, contrasts sharply with the raw emotion conveyed within the central image. This dissonance creates a tension of its own. Editor: Are the surface textures intentionally flattened? Curator: Consider the flatness as an inherent quality of the medium itself. These printed trade cards needed to be economical, so a highly rendered or detailed image would not have served the producer's purpose. Notice how W. Duke, Sons & Co uses lines and blocking shapes, over complex three-dimensional construction of elements. Editor: I see now that the composition’s arrangement, the contrast in colors and how the textures highlight certain emotional elements while simplifying visual depth... it really draws out these… well, “terrors” of America. Curator: Yes. A formal analysis brings those construction features forward.